So I’ve spent entirely too much time researching new rims for next month. I’ve narrowed it down to these:
Stans Arch Mk3 – advantage, I can get a rear for £50 cheaper than the others from Merlin, on Hope hub. Would order the front from PTCycles (they have the 32 hole hub). Downside, no reviews anywhere and the consensus seems to be Stan are a little soft.
DT Swiss XM481 – seems to be the new hotness – reviews well, strong, reasonably light. Only downside, apart from the £50 premium over the Arch since Merlin don’t build them, the 30mm rim might be a smidge too wide for my Wild Grip’r 2.25 Advanced, therefore necessitating a new tire too.
DT Swiss EX471 – strong, proven, well reviewed. Only 25mm feels less future proofed than the XM481. Perhaps over engineered for my needs.
I don’t do big drops (only small ones :D) and I don’t jump. So really, the Arch is probably fine. However there are sections of my local trail that get fast and rocky so I think the burlier XM/EX rims might be wise. I’m tempted to get the EX so I don’t need to worry about tires, but I think I’ll go for the XM and try the 2.25 on it.
Any thoughts? Am I over-thinking? Initially I just wanted better wheels than the Crossrocs, but quickly that spirals into best bang.